DIDACTIC: "WHEN ONE IS CONFUSION" BY AKAN ESSIEN

They sweep  

with one hand  

and still demand  

we climb with one.

The bat flaps  

with a single wing  

and learns to hop  

on one leg.

They watch  

with one eye 

that is why  

one lid flutters  

and signals only  

terror.

How then  

shall they walk straight?  

How then  

shall they dance  

after the day’s work?  

How shall they see  

when all around  

is not well  

but a well?

 © Akan Essien

- Uyo

 "WHEN ONE IS CONFUSION" by Akan Essien portrays the destructive effects of confusion, imbalance, and incomplete effort through a series of symbolic images. The speaker describes situations where tasks are performed with only one hand, a bat attempts to fly with one wing, and a person tries to see with only one eye. These images illustrate the impossibility of achieving success or making meaningful progress when one's abilities, judgment, or resources are limited or misused.

The poet concludes with a series of rhetorical questions, asking how such a person can walk, dance, or see clearly under these conditions. The final line, "all around is not well but a well," uses wordplay to suggest that confusion can cause people to mistake danger for safety. Overall, the poem teaches that clear thinking, balance, and the proper use of one's abilities are essential for success, while confusion leads to failure, instability, and poor judgment.